Read Online The Dragons of Argonath by Christopher Rowley - Free Book Online
Authors: Christopher Rowley
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highway, actually ahead of the news of their coming. What could be more secure than that?
"I thought we did rather well in Kadein. Didn't you think things went well there?"
"They did, Your Majesty. Undoubtedly there will be new heart in the forces of the governing party. King Neath will survive. Perhaps the grain factors can be turned back."
Pascal nodded at her words, a smile of satisfaction creased his face.
"There, doesn't that sound like a job well-done? This visit was necessary! After Eigo the wound was deep."
"Still, Your Majesty, treachery could have come at any moment. As it was, I doubt that our security was good enough to completely mask our departure from Kadein."
"We travel as fast as any messenger, unless they've taken to riding those bat things."
"There are other ways of sending messages, Your Majesty."
"The grain factors are not sorcerers, Lady."
"They are wealthy. Not all sorcerers are so blessed."
He threw up his hands. "If I were to listen to you witches, there would come a point at which we would become so scared of our own shadow that we would not dare to go outside."
Lessis smiled. He had a point. The emperor was still vigorous, chafing against the restraints of his position. It was up to her, once again, to play the sorry old voice of caution. She sighed inwardly. Retirement seemed far away now. She missed thinking about simple things, like the health of her pear tree, or the rabbit that was raiding her lettuces. Now all that had been snatched away, and she was back in the eye of the hurricane, riding beside the emperor himself, sick with worry.
"Of course, Your Majesty. This progress through the cities is good politics. And in other times it would not concern me nearly so much."
"You cling to the thought that we are in deadly danger."
"We have had information of a disturbing nature. You know what I'm speaking of."
The Emperor Pascal frowned and looked out the window.
"The concepts are difficult, hard to believe perhaps."
"But true, nonetheless. The situation is unclear, and highly volatile. We have a new enemy, a shadowy foe who will not reveal himself until his victory is assured. He has forged some kind of alliance with the Four Masters still in Padmasa. He is a known master of the arts of manipulation. He will seek to ignite civil wars and internecine struggles among his enemies. On many worlds he is called the Deceiver. On others simply the Dominator."
"What motivates such a monster?"
"There are great mysteries here, that hark back to the very beginning of the world. This one was sent to infuse spirit in the world, but failed his duty. The thirst for power can be very strong, Your Majesty. It can unhinge even the greatest minds."
They clattered over a bridge into a small town.
"Where are we?" Pascal called up to the driver.
"This be Cailonne, Your Majesty. Next town is Brennans."
"And what do they do in Cailonne?"
"They grow barley and wheat here, sir," said the guard. "The ale is good too."
"We shall stretch our legs here, and perhaps take a quaff of the famous ale."
They pulled up. The market square in Cailonne was dominated by the red brick Hotel Cailonne. Out of the carriage, Lessis walked behind the emperor, allowing the bodyguards free rein. The emperor never moved, but he was covered by two or three men at all times. A pair of archers stood behind the carriage and scrutinized the upper windows all around the square.
Pascal, who was not oblivious to all of this, was determined to meet the people. Word had already flashed through the village that some very important personage had suddenly pulled up in the market square with thirty men, two carriages, and a huge string of spare horses.
He strode through the crowds as men went ahead proclaiming the presence of the emperor, Pascal the Great.
Outside the Hotel Cailonne he was greeted by the manager, the mayor of the town, and several prosperous farmers. A silver mug of the best ale was brought out on a silver tray, and
"I thought we did rather well in Kadein. Didn't you think things went well there?"
"They did, Your Majesty. Undoubtedly there will be new heart in the forces of the governing party. King Neath will survive. Perhaps the grain factors can be turned back."
Pascal nodded at her words, a smile of satisfaction creased his face.
"There, doesn't that sound like a job well-done? This visit was necessary! After Eigo the wound was deep."
"Still, Your Majesty, treachery could have come at any moment. As it was, I doubt that our security was good enough to completely mask our departure from Kadein."
"We travel as fast as any messenger, unless they've taken to riding those bat things."
"There are other ways of sending messages, Your Majesty."
"The grain factors are not sorcerers, Lady."
"They are wealthy. Not all sorcerers are so blessed."
He threw up his hands. "If I were to listen to you witches, there would come a point at which we would become so scared of our own shadow that we would not dare to go outside."
Lessis smiled. He had a point. The emperor was still vigorous, chafing against the restraints of his position. It was up to her, once again, to play the sorry old voice of caution. She sighed inwardly. Retirement seemed far away now. She missed thinking about simple things, like the health of her pear tree, or the rabbit that was raiding her lettuces. Now all that had been snatched away, and she was back in the eye of the hurricane, riding beside the emperor himself, sick with worry.
"Of course, Your Majesty. This progress through the cities is good politics. And in other times it would not concern me nearly so much."
"You cling to the thought that we are in deadly danger."
"We have had information of a disturbing nature. You know what I'm speaking of."
The Emperor Pascal frowned and looked out the window.
"The concepts are difficult, hard to believe perhaps."
"But true, nonetheless. The situation is unclear, and highly volatile. We have a new enemy, a shadowy foe who will not reveal himself until his victory is assured. He has forged some kind of alliance with the Four Masters still in Padmasa. He is a known master of the arts of manipulation. He will seek to ignite civil wars and internecine struggles among his enemies. On many worlds he is called the Deceiver. On others simply the Dominator."
"What motivates such a monster?"
"There are great mysteries here, that hark back to the very beginning of the world. This one was sent to infuse spirit in the world, but failed his duty. The thirst for power can be very strong, Your Majesty. It can unhinge even the greatest minds."
They clattered over a bridge into a small town.
"Where are we?" Pascal called up to the driver.
"This be Cailonne, Your Majesty. Next town is Brennans."
"And what do they do in Cailonne?"
"They grow barley and wheat here, sir," said the guard. "The ale is good too."
"We shall stretch our legs here, and perhaps take a quaff of the famous ale."
They pulled up. The market square in Cailonne was dominated by the red brick Hotel Cailonne. Out of the carriage, Lessis walked behind the emperor, allowing the bodyguards free rein. The emperor never moved, but he was covered by two or three men at all times. A pair of archers stood behind the carriage and scrutinized the upper windows all around the square.
Pascal, who was not oblivious to all of this, was determined to meet the people. Word had already flashed through the village that some very important personage had suddenly pulled up in the market square with thirty men, two carriages, and a huge string of spare horses.
He strode through the crowds as men went ahead proclaiming the presence of the emperor, Pascal the Great.
Outside the Hotel Cailonne he was greeted by the manager, the mayor of the town, and several prosperous farmers. A silver mug of the best ale was brought out on a silver tray, and
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